I have been getting beep codes when I try to boot my computer. I get one long and 2 shorts, a pause, and then 2 more shorts. My machine does not boot up after the beeps. If I keep turning my computer on and off, after about 6 or 7 tries, it usually boots up after asking whether I want to go into safe mode or not.
I called Dell, and they had me swap my memory into an empty slot, and that seemed to do the trick. They said I had a bad slot and I needed a new motherboard and they sent one out to the local repair facility. A few hours later, I got the same beep codes as before, and again I couldn't boot my system. The technician replaced my motherboard today to no avail. He then said my RAM was the culprit, and ordered new RAM which he should receive tomarrow.
Wanting to do some detective work, I bought myself some new RAM from Best Buy to test his theory. I was going to add memory sooner or later anyways. After removing the old memory and replacing it with the new one, guess what? Same beeps and no boot up.
Now I have a new motherbaord, I'll have new RAM from Dell tomarrow, and I'll have a machine that still won't boot up properly. It's all under warranty still, so I don't really care. But I am getting a little impatient. Does anyone know what could be wrong here? LOL don't say operator error for this one
I am running a PIII 933 w/ 256MB Ram and a 40gb HD.

Sounds definitely a RAM problem. How many memory cards do you have? If more than one, take them all away, and put them in one at a time with a boot after every card. And don't put them into same order as they were. Might work sometimes..

There might just be a short-cut in your motherboard / memory card.. It may still work... Like my CPU FAN2 (twincooler) is in a short-cut and it leaks and runs at around 4000 RPM while FAN1 runs at normal 6000 RPM...